The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: ¶ [From material supplied to us by Baron Sir Ferdinand von Mueller, we are now able to give an illustration (fig. 15) of a plant which is likely to be of importance as a perfume-producing plant. It i...

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92.12.00

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to the Gardeners' Chronicle, 1892-12. R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora, J.H. Voigt and Monika Wells (eds), Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, <https://vmcp.rbg.vic.gov.au/id//letters/1890-6/1892/92-12-00-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Hypoestes moscatum', Gardeners' chronicle, 21 January 1893, p. 77. The letter is dated to December 1892 as the latest likely date that the seeds could have been sent to have been mentioned in this issue. The same page has an illustration of the species.

[From material supplied to us by Baron Sir Ferdinand von Mueller, we are now able to give an illustration (fig. 15) of a plant which is likely to be of importance as a perfume-producing plant. It is an Acanthaceous plant, native to Arnhem's Land, North Australia, and is described by Sir Ferdinand as a perennial herb, pervaded by singularly penetrating musk scent, so that from the foliage a powerful cosmetic [perfume]

Inserted by the Gardeners' chronicle editor.

can be distilled, the odorous principle not being subject to chemical decomposition through gentle heat, see Select Extra Tropical Plants, 8th edition, 1891 p. 529.

B91.09.01. See also M to N. Holtze, 3 October 1891.

The dried specimens retain their powerful odour of musk. A few seeds furnished us by Sir Ferdinand have been distributed among the curious.]